Category: Nature

Views of nature and the natural world. Plants, animals, and wildlife from around the world.

Wednesday (24-August-2016) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Robber Fly with a meal. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec).

Robber Fly with a Meal. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec) (David J Mathre)
Robber Fly with a Meal. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec) (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (24-August-2016) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Kermit the Bullfrog staying cool in the mud at the Sourland Mountain Preserve pond. Image taken with a Nikon N1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 160 mm, f/5.3, 1/25 sec).

Kermit the Bullfrog in the Mud. Image taken with a Nikon One V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 160 mm, f/5.3, 1/25 sec) (David J Mathre)
Kermit the Bullfrog in the Mud. Image taken with a Nikon One V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 160 mm, f/5.3, 1/25 sec) (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (24-August-2016) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

I originally thought this was an elusive American Bittern at the Sourland Mountain Preserve Pond.  The same bird I saw on 16-August-2016. When the bird is in flight it had a black crest.  Now I think it is an immature Green Heron. I have previously seen Green Herons at the Sourland Mountain Preserve (15-September-2013). Four images taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens.


Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slideshow.


Wednesday (24-August-2016) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

I visited the Sourland Mountain Preserve yesterday at 15:00. It was hot out, and I only lasted an hour. I saw a number of Monarch butterflies, but they were not staying still. I did catch both a Monarch butterfly and an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly feeding on a Queen Anne’s Lace flower. I don’t often see butterflies feeding on this flower.

Monarch Butterfly on a Queen Anne's Lace Flower. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (David J Mathre)
Monarch Butterfly on a Queen Anne’s Lace Flower. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (David J Mathre)
Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on a Queen Anne's Lace Flower. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (David J Mathre)
Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on a Queen Anne’s Lace Flower. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (24-August-2016) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Bumble Bee in Flight. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec).

Bumble Bee approaching a Yellow Wildflower. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (David J Mathre)
Bumble Bee approaching a Yellow Wildflower. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (David J Mathre)